Automobile brake guard



May 11 ,'1926.- 1,584,233

J. H. LACY AUTOMOBILE BRAKE GUARD Filed Nov. 9, 1921 Fig.1..

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John H.\ ucy I WWWML M Patented May 11, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HOWARD LACY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMOBILE BRAKE GUARD.

Application filed November 9, 1921. Serial N0. 514,074.

The object of this invention isto provide suitable mechanism for preventing such an occurrence either through mechanically or electrically controlled means. I

More specifically the object of the invention is to provide a signal such as a hell or.

a light which will be operated whenever the a brake mechanism isapplied and an actuator such for exampleas the clutch is moved to afi'ect the connection of the engine to the driving wheels. The object of the invention is further to provide a simple practical form of mechanism which ma readily be embodied in existing auto-mobi es.

These and other objects and. features of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings and W111 be the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the mainportions of a preferred form of electrically, controlled apparatus embodying .the' invention in position in an ordinary type of automobile mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the construc tion shown in 1* 1g. 1 together with a diagrammatic illustration of an electric circuit, a source of electric energy and a signal.

Fig. 3 is adiagrammatic illustration of themain elements involved in the apparatus.

The invention being adaptable to a wide range of'machines such for'example as automobiles and not being concerned with any of the mechanism of the machine or vehicle other than those parts to whichit is directly connected; it is unnecessary to illustrate or describe in detail the mechanism of the machine or automobile.

In Figures 1 and 2 abrake actuator shown in-the' form of the ordinary emer} particularly pointed out in gency brake of an automobile comprising the upstanding arm or handle 1- connectedto the horizontal rotatable shaft 2, the arm 3 connected to and extending downwardly from the shaft 2 and the rod 4 pivoted to the lower end of the arm 3 and running to the brake mechanism. In the form illustrated it is assumed that a movement of the arm 1 and shaft 2 clockwise to a position such as illustrated will apply the brake mechanism while a movement in the opposite direction will release the brake mechanism.

Again in Figures 1 and 2 a connection actuator is shown in'the form of a clutch pedal 5 connected to a horizontal rotatable shaft 6. This is illustrated as ofan ordinary type adapted to. control the clutch which connects and disconnects theengine to the driving elements or wheels or rear wheels of the automobile. In the construction illustrated it is assumed that when the clutch pedal 5 is, moved clockwise by the usual spring to the position shown the engine will be connected to the driving elements and when moved in the'opposite direction by the operators foot will be disconnected therefrom.

It is to be understood, of course, that therev may be other'and additional means for effecting the connection and disconnection of the engine to the driving elements such for example as the usual transmission mechanism.

as utilizing any connection actuator which is movable to afiect the connection and d1s connection of the engine to the drlving ele- The invention in fact is to be considered a ments that is anyone of the various elements which have to be moved to effect this result such as the clutch pedal or transmission shifting lever.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated electrically controlled means are employed but the invention in' its broader aspects is not limited to'electrical means.

In the construction illustrated a bracket 7 shown as a block of insulating material is secured,"as by means of a plate 8' projecting a metal'plate 14 securedto the block. A pair ion of movable contacts are mounted on this bracket block 7 to co-operate respectively p ates 16 and 20 respectlvely.

with the fixed contacts. Each movable contactis shown in the form of a plate pivoted to the block 7. The movable contact is onthe upper end of the plate 16 pivoted by means of the projecting arms 17 at 18 to the block. In the same manner the movable contact.19 is on the upper end of the plate 20- pivoted by means of the projecting arms 21 at 22 to the block 7. Both of these movable contacts act normally to close upon their respective fixed contacts. This result is conveniently securedvby plungers 23 and 24 slidingly mounted in the block 7 and projected outwardly by vsprings 25 and 26 a ainst the lower or de nding ends of the The brake actuator arm 1' controls the movement of the movable contact 15 and the connection actuator 5 controls the movement ofthe movable contact 19. As a convenient means for securing this control the shaft 2 of the brake actuator has adjustably mounted thereon a split collar 27 locked in adjusted position by a set screw 28 and carrying an upstanding striker arm 29, A set screw 30 1s adjustably mounted in the end of the striker arm and locked in place by a lock nut 31. A similar construction is provided in the case of the connection actuator, a split collar 32 being adjustably secured to the shaft 6 and'locked in place by the bolt 33. The upstanding striker arm 34 of the collar 32 is likewise provided with a set screw 35 adjustable therein and locked in place by the lock nut 36.

The' fixed and movable contacts are included in an electric circuit shown diammatically in Figure 2. The electric c1rcuit also includes a suitable signal which may be of the visual or audible type but is herein shown as an electric bell 37 It alsb includes a suitable sourceof electric energy herein shown .as a battery 38 which may be the starting battery commonly found in automobiles. One arm 39 of the circuit extends as shown to a binding post 40 onthe pivot of the plate 16 while the other arm of the circuit extends to a bindingpost 41 on the pivot of the plate 20. A

It will thus be seen that all the parts illustrated may readily be applied to existing automobiles. All that is necessary is to bolt or otherwise secure-the insulation plug 7 in place to some part of the frame such as the vframe member 11 and to secure adjustably V in place the collars 27 and 32 on the respec- "30 and tive shafts'2 and 6 and adjust the set screws The operation of the apparatus will also be apparent. When the brake mechanism is.

applied the arm 1 is moved clockwise releasing the movable contactplate 16 so that it closes against the fixed contact 13 as shown in Figure 1. The electriceircuit is now closed at this point. The connection actuments the first operation naturally thus-"finally closing the electric circuit and causing the signal such as the bell 37 to sound. and thus warn the operator.

As already pointed out any movable actuconnection of the engine to the driving elements or the starting of thecar may be .80' ator employed at any 'oint for efiectingthe employed to control the closing of the circuit 1 at one 'point and the clutch pedal-is to be considered merely as one exemplification of this feature. This idea is aphically and diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 3.

'Here the fixed contacts are represented at 42 and 43, the movable contacts at 44 and 45, the brake actuator at 46 with its striker arm at 47, the signal at 48, the source of electric energy at 49 while the circle 50 represents any device the movement of which to efiect the connection and disconnection of the engine to the driving elements may be utilized to control. the co-operationof the contacts 42 and 44. 1

Having thus described my I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In' an automobile a brake actuator movable to'apply and release brake mechanism,

a clutch actuator movable to efiect the con-' nection and disconnection of the engine to. the driving elements, a signal, and means controlled by the absence of the brake actuator from releasing position to operate the signal upon the movement of the clubh actuator.

2. In an automobile abrake actuator movinvention what able to apply and release brake mechanism,

a connection actuator movable to efi'ect the connection and disconnection of-the engine to the driving elements, an electric circuit, a sourceof electric energy in the circuit, a

signal in the circuit operable upon the (3103- mg of the c1rcuit,a pair of fixed contacts in the circuit, a pair of movable contacts in the circuit 'co operating respectively with the fixed contacts,"means acting normally to close the movable contacts .11 n the fixed contacts, means connected w1th the-brake actuatoracting upon the movement thereof from releasing position to permit one of the movable contacts to close upon its co-operating fixed contact, and means connected with the'connection actuator acting upon the movement/0f the. connection actuator to per-' mit the closing'of the other movable contact;

upon its co-operating contact whereby the automobile is prevented from being started with the brake mechanism applied without the operation of the signal.

nection and disconnection of the engine .to the driving elements, a frame member, a'

bracket mounted on the frame member, a

pair of fixed contacts mounted on the bracket, a pair of movable contacts mounted on the bracket and co-operating "respectively with the fixed contacts, means acting northe fixed contacts, an electric circuit including the fixed and movable contacts, a source of electric energy in the circuit, a signal in the circuit operable upon the closing thereof and striker members mounted ,mally to close the movable contacts upon respectively upon the "brake actuator and connection actuator shafts, the striker mem her on the brake actuator shaft acting upon theabsence of the brake actuator from releasing position to' permit the movement of one of the movable contacts to closing position and the striker member upon the connection actuator shaft acting upon the-movement of the connection actuator to permit the movenient of the other movable contact to closing position. i t

4.1.In an automobile, a brake actuator movable to apply and release brake mechanism, a clutch actuatormovable to effect the connection and disconnection ofthe engine to the driving elements, and means controlled by the absence of the brake actuator from releasing position to, give an audible signal upon the movement of the clutch actuator.

In testimony- Wh'ereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

Joint HOWARD LACY. 

